Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [34]
Hepesh faced him proudly. ‘I don’t want this planet destroyed in retaliation, by Federation warships. I seek only an honourable peace.’
‘Yet you slap the Federation in the face’, said the Doctor, ‘by sabotaging the Commission. Why?’
‘Because I am afraid’ confessed the High Priest, not flinching from his opponents stare, ‘as you would be...’
Was he sincere, wondered the Doctor? Patriotism was often a genuine motive in driving men to commit the most violent acts to preserve their nation’s freedom. If this was the case with Hepesh, he might have a point—though it still didn’t make his methods anything but wrong.
‘Afraid of what? Joining the Federation is a safeguard—a protection needed by a developing planet like yours.’
‘That is not true!’ retorted Hepesh sharply. ‘I know the Federations true intent!’
‘It’s only purpose is to help you,’ insisted the Doctor.
‘No!’ cried the priest. ‘If you think that, you are blind! They will exploit us for our minerals, enslave us with their machines, corrupt us with their glittering technology! The face of this planet will be changed. The past will be swept away!’ He paused, his face tragic. ‘Nothing that I know, or value, will remain.’
Yes, thought the Doctor, Hepesh is sincere all right. He’s also highly dangerous. A fanatic set against progress. Obsessed with the traditions of the past, to the point where individual deaths are simply stepping stones to success. But was Hepesh alone in his campaign against the Federation? Somehow, the Doctor had to find out.
‘My dear Hepesh,’ remarked the Doctor condescendingly,
‘the progress offered by the Federation isn’t like that at all. And hiding behind the traditions of the past won’t solve anything.’
‘Our roots are in the past,’ growled Hepesh. ‘I would rather be a cave dweller, and free, than a city slave, civilised to the point of mindlessness!’
‘Do you call holding your people prisoner by ritual and superstition, freedom?’
‘The people need Aggedor. He is our protector!’
The Doctor smiled, tauntingly. He had to provoke the High Priest into admitting the truth. ‘And do you seriously expect your pet ghost to take on the whole Federation single-handed?
My dear chap, you haven’t a hope!’ The trick worked. Hepesh’s eyes flared with anger.
‘You are a fool, alien!’ he snarled fiercely. ‘We do not stand alone!’
‘Oh...?’ queried the Doctor. ‘And who exactly is standing with you?’
Hepesh did not answer. His eyes narrowed and his face grew bitter at finding himself caught out by the Doctor. When at last he spoke, he chose to ignore the Doctor’s last question, as he moved to the doorway.
‘Take your chance while you can, alien’, the High Priest snarled. ‘It isn’t long till dawn!’
Jo had left the throne room in something of a daze. She had not given Peladon an answer to his formal proposal of marriage.
Despite his obvious sincerity, she couldn’t be sure that his real purpose wasn’t mainly political—and that was no basis for a wedding in Jo’s book! Walking back to the delegates’ conference room, Jo reflected on Peladon’s personality. She found him almost impossible to understand. One moment he was condemning the Doctor to certain death; the next he was proposing not just a marriage, but an interplanetary blood alliance! To Jo, the events just couldn’t be separated, but Peladon had insisted they had no connection. His judgement of the case against the Doctor fell under his duty as a king; his offer of marriage to Jo sprang from his feelings as a man. In spite of this, Jo couldn’t help wondering what he would say if he ever discovered she wasn’t of royal blood at all!
In her absence, the delegates were speculating about Jo’s all too obvious attraction for Peladon. Although they didn’t yet know of the proposal, they suspected that it was almost bound to happen, sooner or later. Arcturus, in particular was bitterly concerned that their mission was being so deliberately misused.
‘The facts point to only one conclusion, grated his mechanical voice. ‘An attempt is